Hi All You Byetta partners…I was just wondering how many of “us” know just how much this affects our daily health. I know that some days I feel good…but then some days I feel really bad…So many instant changes after eating just the wrong amount of something sets fear afire in you…I just wondered if I was alone…Byetta has really helped me get control of my bs, but living with it sometimes gets very frustrating…So please share any way you want on how we can help each other cope or better regulate these upsetting internal moments…I suffer with thyroid disease, ocular myasthenia gravis, hypertension, and T2 diabetes…so so regulating when and when not to take medications is all part of the game…I just wonder what the chemical process is in my body when I take my Byetta injection…ie…should I eat my protein first; would it be better to eat carb first; which should I eat more of carb or protein; should I eat equal amounts of both; where does veg and fruit fit in???..Okay…don’t tell me to see a nutritionist…I have not valued very much knowledge from them…They make you feel your in grammar school or something worst…just dumb…so I don’t see wasting another dollar on their services…I like the grit of knowledge…sharing and experiencing and learning are the greatest tools for us today…so If you would like to chime in your thoughts…please do…hopefully one of us will be enlightened…Let this day be better than our Yesterday…
What Byetta does is cause your stomach valve at the bottom of the stomach to stay closed. This slows digestion way down and may make you feel very full.
So if you need to digest something, like a medication, you must take it before the Byetta. Otherwise it may sit undigested in your stomach.
One other thing about the way Byetta works is that it causes your beta cells to secrete insulin (if they are capable of it) when your blood sugar gets to about 120 mg/dl. So a small amount of carbs gets it working and if it works for you, you can eat a bit more carb than you are used to.
BUT, research suggests it doesn’t do much for 2/3rds of those who take it while 1/3 get very good results.
You should test your blood sugar at 3 or 4 hours, not 1 or 2 after eating, because of the way it slows digestion. If you are seeing dangerous peaks–well over 140 hours after eating, it isn’t working and you should talk to your doctor. Also if you don’t lose weight after a month on it you probably won’t.
There is no reason to take Byetta if it isn’t causing weight loss or controlling blood sugars. If doctors tell you it is rejuvenating your beta cells, this turns out not to be true. I blogged about this last week. HERE: http://diabetesupdate.blogspot.com/2009/05/new-study-proves-conclus…
Thanks for keeping us posted. It is a shame that with these treatments that you have to pay a lot and also win the lottery since it does not work in most patients.
I found that with and without 1500 mg of metformin my average BG and it’s variance where exectly the same. I wonder if a study was done on it what percentage of the people have success and how many have not. The same non-results I obtained with avandia. It is important for people to test BG with and without the medication. with insulin you can immediately see theresults on your meter but all the others sometimes it is not there.
Thanks Jenny for replying to quickly. I am trying very hard to get a clear cut picture of how my body is working. I have lost about 40 lbs since I started Byetta Nov 2007. It has greatly lowed my numbers. When I test my BG about 2 hours after injection I average about 112. I average about 138 before meals now. I was bouncing all over the 200’s before byetta. I appreciate your simple detailed description of the byetta chemical process. No one has ever explained it in that way to me. My doctors always seem to get to clinical no matter my questions. After hearing your discription I am thinking maybe taking my other oral meds “after” my shot might be one clue to how I am feeling. I will begin trying that for a change. Taking them 30 mins before I take my next injection. Giving them time to digest past my stomach. Some need food at intake so I will try taking them with milk. I don’t believe this will deter my shot in any way. Again thanks for the info.
Wow 40 lb in such a short time it is a miracle drug.